Chapter 1I was reborn.
Sent back to the day my niece threw my son off the third floor and killed him.
I didn't hesitate. I immediately had my parents come pick him up.
But the second I stepped through my mother-in-law's front door that same day, another baby was thrown from upstairs.
Blood stained the ground. The crying stopped. Just like that.
Right now, my son was safe at my mom's place.
So this time... whose child just died?
...
The second I stepped into my mother-in-law's yard, I heard it.
THUD!
A tiny bundled body slammed onto the brick patio.
Blood slowly spread across the baby blanket.
I stood frozen.
Looked up.
Sienna was standing at the third-floor window.
The second our eyes met, she lifted her chin. Smug.
Just like she did in my past life—when the judge said she was too young to face charges.
That MONSTER!
Looked up again. She was already gone.
My husband David and my mother-in-law Monica rushed out.
Monica screamed. Her legs nearly gave out.
David stumbled forward. Glanced at the baby. Then turned to me:
"Tessa... the baby's... gone."
I couldn't even look. I bolted upstairs.
BANG! BANG!
"Sienna, OPEN THE DOOR!"
She had locked herself in her room.
I kicked the door. "Sienna! Open this door! Who did you throw?!"
No answer. Just her and her friend giggling:
"Sienna, what if they call the cops? My mom's gonna kill me."
"Relax. We didn't mean to do it. Besides, cops can't arrest minors."
Their carefree words stabbed into me like needles.
My whole body shook with rage.
I slammed my full weight into the door.
"Get out here! Do you even understand what you did? You killed someone!"
Then David caught up. Grabbed me. His eyes were red:
"Hey! Tessa, calm down. You're scaring them."
I stared at him. Full of hate.
Last time, it was the same.
Our son was dead. And all he cared about was protecting his niece!
Monica came over, wiped her tears:
"Sienna went too far this time... But Tessa, don't blow this out of proportion."
"Cody was only three months old. It's not like you were that attached yet."
"So, just move on."
"You're young. You can have another child."
I frozen.
I couldn't believe a woman—a mother—would say that.
Then it hit me...
They thought it was MY on lying downstairs.
But I'd just handed Cody to my parents.
So whose tiny, broken body was that on the patio?
"Sienna, stop it!"
David suddenly wrapped his arms around me:
"I swear we'll get justice for Cody. But Sienna's still just a kid—she didn't know what she was doing..."
Before he could finish, I shoved him off.
"What are you saying? If she didn't know better, why didn't she jump?"
I grabbed a chair nearby. Slammed it into the door.
The wood rattled. The whole house shook.
"Sienna! Get out here, or I'm breaking this door down!"
Why should she get to kill someone and walk away like nothing happened?
Even if it wasn't my son lying down there, I was going to make sure this little monster paid!!
"Stop it! If you don't stop, I'll jump!"
Sienna yelled from inside.
Dare to threaten me?
Furious. I marched to the kitchen, grabbed a cleaver, and hacked it into the door.
But the blade stuck deep in the wood. I couldn't pull it back out.
"You jump, then! If you don't, I'm coming in there to finish you myself!"
Finally, the pressure got to her. She opened the door. Looked sullen and annoyed.
"What DO YOU want?"
"Who did you throw!"
She tilted her head. Swayed side to side like she didn't care.
"Your son. Who else?"
SMACK!
I slapped her across the face.
Her eyes instantly filled with tears.
She clutched her cheek. Looked at me like I was insane.
"How dare you hit me? Even my mom doesn't hit me, you b—"
SMACK!
Again.
"That's exactly why you turned into a monster—because your mom never did!"
I grabbed her by the collar. Got in her face:
"I'm asking you one more time. Who. Did. You. Throw?!"
She flinched. Stammered:
"It was your baby, Cody. But I didn't mean to! I just wanted to see what would happen if he fell..."
"I didn't think he'd actually die..."
Chapter 2
I looked past her into the room.
The window was wide open. Cold wind poured in.
Sienna's friend was huddled by the bed. Too terrified to speak.
They were in elementary school. How could they not know it was dangerous?
David stepped forward: "Sienna admitted she was wrong. Honey, you got your anger out. Let's just... bury him."
God! I couldn't believe what I was hearing!
A life was gone, and all she had to do was SAY SORRY??
Monica rushed over. Hugged Sienna. Stroked her face:
"You hit her so hard! Look how red her face is!"
Red?
That baby lost their LIFE, and all she got was a red cheek!
I shoved Monica aside. Grabbed Sienna by the hair and dragged her toward the window:
"You said you didn't know what would happen? Let's find out together, huh?"
"No! I'll die if I fall!" Sienna screamed. Thrashed. "You bad woman! You'll go to jail! You'll go to jail!"
So she DID know.
And she still did it.
I couldn't wrap my head around it—how could a child be this cruel?
Suddenly, pain shot through my arm.
David yanked me backward so hard I slammed headfirst into the wall.
Blood trickled down.
He stood in front of Sienna. Glared at me, coldly.
"Enough! The baby's dead. Why are you taking it out on a kid? This is on you for not watching him!"
He and Monica formed a wall in front of Sienna.
Stared me down like I was the enemy.
Yeah, I still had a lot I couldn't figure out.
But one thing was crystal clear now—
THEY were the real family here. Blood ties and all.
Me and my son? We were nothing to them.
I clutched my forehead. Pulled out my phone with shaking hands and tried to call 911.
David immediately kicked it out of my hand:
"This is a family matter. Why are you calling the cops?!"
"And Sienna's just a child. It won't do anything."
I steadied myself against the wall. Looked at him. Heartbroken:
"That was your son who died. And you're not going to do anything?"
He glanced at the blood on my forehead.
For a second, he looked sorry.
"Tessa, we can have another baby."
"But Sienna? She's my only niece."
What a great man.
So family-oriented.
I married him because he was loyal and caring to his family.
But I never thought that loyalty would become the knife in my back.
I turned to head downstairs.
But Sienna's mother, Jenna shoved past me. She shoulder-checked me hard.
She hugged Sienna. Shot me a venomous look.
"How dare you hit my daughter? I don't even hit her. Who do you think you are?!"
I was shaking. "Why don't you ask your daughter what she did?"
"Your son died, so now it's my daughter's fault?! If anyone's to blame, it's your son for being unlucky!"
I was boiling with rage.
But right now, all I could think about was that baby downstairs.
Who were they?
Why were they even here?
"Jenna, you have a kid too. If it was your child who died today, could you still say that?"
Her eyes widened. She immediately jabbed a finger at me:
"You shameless witch! Your son's dead, so now you're cursing mine?"
"You know what?! I'm glad your son's dead! That brat deserved it!!"
This woman was hopeless.
Not worth my breath.
I grabbed my cracked phone. Headed downstairs.
Monica yelled, "Stop her! She's calling the cops!"
Jenna scoffed. "So what? Sienna can't go to jail anyway."
"You idiot! If she reports us, we'll have to pay!"
Jenna's face twisted in disgust. "David, look at the wife you picked. Her own son just died and she's already scheming to bleed us dry!"
David's face went dark.
He chased after me. But I'd already sent the text to my parents.
He lunged. Grabbed my phone. When he saw what I'd sent, he slapped me hard across the face.
"I told you this is a family issue! Why are you calling the cops?"
"My brother's family is already struggling. Are you really trying to ruin them? I never knew you were this heartless!"
I clutched my chest. Laughed bitterly.
Yeah. I'm heartless.
I even wish they'd all drop dead.
But I didn't say a word. I just kept walking downstairs.
Because I had to know.
Who was that baby?
I already had a sinking feeling.
But I didn't want to believe it...
Chapter 3
When I ignored him, David panicked. He followed me downstairs.
As I reached the door, he grabbed my shoulder hard.
"Tessa, stop this, okay? I already checked on Cody. He's gone."
"Let's just bury him and move on. Can we do that?"
I shoved him off without a word.
But the next second, my eyes went wide—
The spot where the baby had been lying was empty!
I grabbed David by the collar. "Where's the baby? What did you do with him?!"
Just then, sirens wailed outside.
Two officers walked into the yard.
"Who called the police?"
David clamped his hand over my mouth. Forced a smile:
"Sorry, officers, my wife made a mistake. Nobody called."
Monica and Jenna rushed downstairs too.
Monica pointed at me. "Sir, she's out of her mind. Married couple fighting, that's all!"
The officers looked skeptical. But figured it was just a domestic dispute. They took notes and left.
Once the cops were out of sight, David finally let go of me.
"Tessa, you think I'm not upset our son died?"
"If you make this public, how's Sienna supposed to show her face at school? How are we supposed to hold our heads up in this town?"
I wiped the tears off my face. "Is all of that worth more than a life?"
I scanned the yard. Searching for the baby's body.
It was nowhere.
I tore through every corner of the house.
Nothing.
Then my eyes landed on the septic tank out back.
When I started toward it, Jenna grabbed me:
"What are you doing? That thing's been acting up. Don't mess with it... HEY!"
I yanked free.
Walked to the septic tank.
Pried open the heavy lid.
The stench hit me instantly.
Then I saw it—a corner of the red baby blanket floated in the sewage below.
My whole body shook.
I let out a scream that ripped through my chest:
"ARE YOU PEOPLE EVEN HUMAN?!"
Seeing she'd been caught, Jenna didn't even bother hiding it anymore.
She even looked almost proud of herself.
"Good thing I'm smart, or you would've bled us dry. Once they're dead, they're just a lump of meat. We're not paying you a dime."
Sienna hid behind her. Sneered at me:
"Bad woman! Your son died and now you want our money? Shameless!"
Monica and husband stood there. Telling me to let it go.
David put his arm around me. Playing the good guy；
"I'll buy you a bag tomorrow. Don't be mad. It's just a baby. We can have another one."
I was so furious I could barely stand.
All I could think about was one thing:WHO is that baby?
"Pull him out. Let's... let's bury him."
David frowned. Stared at the filth with disgust. He clearly didn't want to do it.
I laughed bitterly. "That's your own flesh and blood down there. You think he's dirty?"
David took a deep breath. Resigned. Reached for the shit scoop.
But Jenna blocked him. Eyes full of suspicion:
"David, she's baiting you. The second you pull that baby out, she'll call the cops!"
"Then she'll drag Sienna to court and we'll be bankrupt!"
Sienna tugged on his shirt too. "Uncle David, I don't wanna pay. If we pay, I can't go to school anymore!"
David immediately gave up and turned back to me:
"Tessa, the baby's already dead. Let him rest."
I stared at him: "Fine, but you're all going to regret this."
I stumbled toward the yard gate.
Jenna lunged. Grabbed my wrist. "Where do you think you're going? Don't even think about calling the cops!"
"You're staying here until after the holidays. Then we'll say your son accidentally fell into the latrine!"
After the holidays??
By then, the body would be eaten away by maggots. No evidence left!
Monica walked over with a rope. Quickly tied my wrists together.
"Tessa, just behave. Stay here."
I struggled. But the rope only tightened.
I looked at David. "Even you? You really think I'm just trying to scam you?"
He just looked away. "Tessa, stay put. Stop doing things that hurt this family."
While my hands were tied, Sienna walked up. Slapped me across the face.
She made a face at me. "You're so tough, huh? Come on, hit me! Oh wait—you can't! Haha!"
I gritted my teeth. Shaking all over.
But with my hands bound, I couldn't fight back.
"You're rotten. Born rotten!!"
Sienna got bolder. She kicked me in the stomach.
The pain shot through my C-section scar. I bit down hard on my lip and looked at David.
I hoped he still had a shred of decency left. That he'd let me go.
But he just waved me off. "Come on! She's just a kid. How hard could she hit? You scared her earlier. Let her blow off some steam."
Hearing this, Sienna kicked me again. "Your son deserved to die! He deserved it!"
"Who the hell said my grandson's dead?!"
Suddenly, a roar erupted.
Sirens blared again.
My parents stood at the gate—with my son, alive and well—and two police officers right behind them.
